The Legend of Arthur
 

ARTHUR, son of Uther Pendragon, King of Brittany, was born by the magical intervention of Merlin. At 16 years of age, during a tournament to decide on a new king for Brittany, torn by endless struggles, he was the only person able to draw Excalibur, the sword of sovereignty, from its stone scabbard. It was prophesied that "Whoever succeeds shall become King". Henceforth Arthur ruled over the destiny of both Great and Little Britain. Merlin was his friend and counsellor. After unifying his kingdom, Arthur married Guenièvre and created the Round Table, around which he gathered the best of his knights. The members of this brotherhood divided their time between life at the Court of King Arthur and the perilous path of adventure. They promised never to avoid the dangers or enchantments that they might encounter.
The most fascinating of their adventures were concerned with the quest for the Holy Grail, the mysterious chalice which contained all the good things in the world. It was said that this cup was used for collecting Christ's blood, but perhaps it was older even than history itself. Amongst those who went in search were Gawain, Perceval and especially Lancelot of the Lake, so called because he was raised by Viviane, a water-fairy and Lady of the Lake. Although the greatest of the knights, his passion for Queen Guinièvre rendered him unworthy of finding the Grail. Perceval, his squire, saw the light of the Grail, but did not know how to frame the question which would have enabled the piercing of the secret. Galahad, Lancelot's son, had the revelation, but he died of it.
 
The Legend of Ys
 
 

DURING the great March tide, called Saint Guénolé's tide, the sea goes out so far that the ruins of a town can be seen; the ruins of a palace; collapsed walls; and the remains of stone causeways linking the Isle of Sein to the mainland.

Long ago Gradlon the Great, king of Cornouaille, had the marvellous city of Ys built for Dahut, his daughter. Because it was below sea level, Ys had to be protected by strong sea-walls. There was a lockgate to the port, and Gradlon alone would decide when it was to open or close for the fishermen. Now Dahut, who was deeply attached to the ancient Celtic gods, accused Corentin, the bishop of Quimper, of having made the town a sad and boring place. She dreamed of a city where only riches, freedom and the joy of living would reign. So, she gave a dragon to the townspeople, which captured all the merchant ships at sea. Because of this, Ys became the richest and most powerful city in Brittany. Dahut reigned there as absolute mistress and guardian of Celtic heritage. Every evening she summoned a different lover to the palace, obliging them to wear a silk mask. But the mask was enchanted and at dawn it turned into metal claws, killing the lovers, whose bodies were then thrown from the top of a cliff into the ocean.

One fine day a prince, dressed all in red, arrived in the city. Dahut immediately fell in love with him. Now, it was really the Devil sent by God to punish the wicked town. For love of him she stole the key to the lockgates from her father while he was asleep, and gave it to him. The prince opened the lockgates and the ocean in all its fury rushed inbto the town, drowning the horrified cries of its inhabitants. Only the good king Gradlon succeeded in escaping, with the help of St. Guénolé. On his horse he waded painfully through the waves, weighed down by none other than his daughter. Struck by St. Guénolé, he was forced to abandon his daughter but he managed to reach the shore. To this very day, when it is calm, the fishermen of Douarnenez often hear the bells ringing under the sea. They say that one day Ys will be reborn finer than ever, because it was only flooded.